WI local: Patto' fires away

For the second successive day, big fast bowler Patterson Thompson rocked Big B Spartan to put ICB Empire in a fine position to press for victory. Another highlight on yesterday's second day of sixth-round Courts/Suzuki Division 1 matches was CHIC Schools North's sterling fight-back against United Carlton.

At Bank Hall (Spartan 104 & 95-6, Empire 117): Empire were made to fight hard to secure a first innings lead of just 13 runs, but Thompson seized the advantage late in the day by grabbing four wickets, including three in one over.

Spartan, who suffered a collapse in which five wickets fell for 33, closed the day with a lead of 82 with four wickets in hand.

At Black Rock (Schools North 39 & 147, Carlton 70-8 dec'd & 62-7): In a dramatic twist of events, Carlton were struggling to avoid defeat against the Schools North in a match they dominated on the first day.

Set 117 for victory, Carlton lost wickets steadily in the face of some impressive bowling from seamers Ryan Nurse and Antonio Thomas.

At stumps, the home team needed another 55 runs to win with three wickets in hand.

Earlier Corey Clarke hit a defiant 61, as the schoolboys who resumed on 49 for six, managed a respectable total.

At Wildey (Pickwick 243, C&W BET 165-7): Three crucial strikes in the midst of a lively spell of accurate pace bowling by Kelso Odaine and the less hostile Tennyson Roach (two for 14) crippled BET's middle order and put ESA Field Pickwick in a good position to take first innings lead.

The pace duo destroyed the early work of Ron Bates who struck three sixes and three fours in scoring 50 off 55 balls.

Earlier, George Harris pushed his overnight 66 to 81 while Roach hit a breezy 37 to boost Pickwick's first innings.

At Bayfield (St. Catherine 193-7, BCL 143): A mixed bag of leg-break bowling by BNB St. Catherine's Dale Mason, in which he captured four for 26 from 4.2 overs, arrested the BCL in their spirited quest to recover the initiative.

Earlier in the day, pacer Hammie Chandler's five-wicket haul, at a cost of 56 runs from 21 overs, restricted St. Catherine to an additional 21 runs after they had resumed at 172-7.

But only Donville Brathwaite with 62, held the BCL innings together before they perished 50 runs short of the target.

Joseph Williams, three for 30, and Roger Blades, three for 34, made the earlier inroads before Mason moved through the lower order.

At Dayrells Road (Police 135 & 9-0, Wanderers 200): Cockspur Wanderers, benefiting from useful contributions from their middle and lower order batsmen gained a handy 65-run first innings lead over defending champions Stansfeld Scott Police.

Michael Edwards followed up his five-wicket haul in Police's first innings, with an attacking topscore of 44 batting at number ten.

At Trents (YMPC 57 & 20-1; Maple 159-8 dec'd): Veteran pacer Emmerson Jordan captured a seven-wicket haul as Mount Gay Maple skittled out Caribbean Lumber YMPC for a modest total.

Maple then struggled before declaring their innings with a lead of only two runs. They picked up one YMPC second innings wicket before the close.

At Kingsland (Schools South 73 & 144-5, Banks 96): Middle-order batsman Kenroy Williams carved out a chanceless unbeaten 54 to give the CHIC Schools South a ray of hope after they were led by Banks by 23 runs on first innings.

On a slow pitch, Williams was ably assisted by Martin Nurse (27) and Dion Lovell (25).

By the close, the schoolboys were leading by 121 runs with five wickets in hand.